ASK THE EXPERT – TOP TIPS AS YOU LOOK FOR A NEW

Trainee Accountant to Senior: How to Progress in Practice (Quickly!)

Throughout my career as a specialist recruiter in professional practice, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented, ambitious accountants, and some have progressed faster than others. While every journey is unique, there are clear patterns in what helps people move from trainee roles into more senior finance jobs within professional practice. Drawing from this experience, I’ve put together a set of strategies any accountant can adopt to accelerate their career up the professional practice ladder. These tactics have proven to be highly effective for those aiming to achieve their professional goals efficiently and successfully. Embrace Increasing ResponsibilityAs you begin your career in accountancy, the scope of your duties often starts with basic tasks such as data entry, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports. While these tasks are important for building a foundation, taking on more responsibility is key to developing the skills and experience needed for progression in practice.Start by volunteering for more complex tasks that stretch your skillset, such as handling larger client accounts, managing financial forecasting, or (if possible) participating in audits. These challenges will expose you to new aspects of accountancy and allow you to learn beyond the day-to-day duties. Another way to progress quickly is by taking on leadership roles within a team or department. Taking on the responsibility of overseeing junior staff, delegating tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met can significantly enhance your development and provide you with the invaluable ‘management experience’ which is essential for trainee accountants looking to advance to the next step in their professional practice careers. Continuous Learning and Self-DevelopmentAs you challenge yourself with new responsibilities, actively pursuing knowledge and development goes hand in hand with completing further qualifications. Traditionally, most accountants I work with are newly or nearly AAT qualified which is a fantastic accomplishment in itself but for those with aspirations of climbing the ladder the next step should be further studies. Qualifications such as the ACA, ACCA or CTA (depending on your chosen specialism) will allow you to strengthen your technical expertise. It’s worth mentioning here that a good training contract and mentor are invaluable for the next step in your journey and should be a big factor when deciding to look for a new role after completing your AAT. Finding a Mentor Another important aspect of progressing quickly in accountancy is developing relationships with more experienced colleagues, supervisors, and managers. By seeking mentorship from more experienced professionals, you can gain insights into how they managed their career progression. Also, they can guide you in taking on appropriate challenges and responsibilities and help you navigate the complexities of the profession. Many of the most successful finance professionals credit their career growth to strong mentorship relationships established early in their journey. NetworkingNetworking is one of the most underutilised tools for career progression in finance. While it might feel intimidating at first, networking allows you to connect with and learn from likeminded individuals, stay informed about trends in professional practice, and discover new opportunities. One of the primary reasons networking is important is that it helps build valuable relationships that can last your career. By connecting with colleagues, senior professionals, and other stakeholders, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, insights, and opportunities that can propel your career forward. Ultimately, networking is not just about what you can gain but also about what you can offer to others. By fostering meaningful relationships, you contribute to a collaborative and supportive community that benefits everyone involved. Here at Sharp Consultancy, we host events across the year and have a long-standing relationship with various institutions and training groups including S&DCASS (Sheffield and District Chartered Accountants Student Society), LCASS (Leeds Chartered Accountants Students Society) and First Intuition to host events that bring studiers together from various firms throughout Yorkshire. It really is a brilliant first step in your networking journey. Whether you're just starting out or already on your way up, accelerating your career in professional practice comes down to a mix of mindset, opportunity, and action. By embracing responsibility, committing to continuous learning, building genuine relationships, and tapping into the right support networks, you’ll put yourself in the best possible position to thrive. If you’d like to explore how to take that next step—or just want to chat through your options—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s connect and start shaping your future together. Charlie Marper, Business Manager, charliemarper@sharpconsultancy.com – 0114 261 1700 Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAYand let's chart your career path together.

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I want to look for a new job but I’m not sure where to start – what advice would you give?

Looking for a new job can be quite a challenge and requires time, effort and lot of research to ensure that you make the right decision. At the start of a new year in particular, a number of people decide that it is time to move roles – this can make the market more competitive. Before starting your search, there are few things that you should consider which will help you find your perfect role.

Why do you want to leave your current job?

It is vital that you try and pin down the reasons why you want to look for a new role. Is there something in your current role or company that is making you unhappy? Also try to work out if this feeling of dissatisfaction has been building for some time or if it is a recent development, perhaps stemming from a return to work after a holiday or break.

Often a break from the normal work routine can make us re-evaluate our choices or can highlight some areas of unhappiness which have been bubbling under the surface for a while but you haven’t had time to think about properly. Before looking at new roles, think about whether the things that you are unhappy about can be addressed by your current employer – for example, if the daily commute is having a negative impact is there flexibility in your working hours or options to work from home? If you are frustrated about a lack of progression opportunities, are there any upcoming projects which would give you exposure to new areas of responsibility?

If, after carefully examining your options, you can’t see any plausible solutions, then it may be time to look elsewhere.

Looking for a new job takes time

Once you have made the decision to actively search for a new role, don’t just rush into applying for any vacancy which sparks a little bit of interest. It is important to consider how this potential move could impact future career choices and how it may enable you to reach your longer-term goals.

Carefully consider what you want to gain and – just as importantly – what you don’t want from your next role. Once you get swept up in the excitement of a new offer it can be very easy to overlook some details which could put you right back where you started; by identifying what your lines in the sand will be, it will enable you to address any concerns during the recruitment process.

Research, research, research…

You want to arm yourself with as much information as you possibly can. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the skills and experience needed for the type of roles you are interested in and identify any areas where you need additional training or exposure to before you start applying.

As well as considering the role you would ideally like, take time to identify suitable companies and organisations that will be a good cultural fit. For example, if you thrive in a busy office environment, you are probably not best suited to a team that is primarily home-based.

Engage with a specialist recruitment consultant

Whilst there will be a number of vacancies posted on job boards and recruitment sites which you will be able to access yourself, it is worth remembering that there will be a vast number of other potential applicants all vying for the same roles. A specialist recruitment consultant that is focused solely on your industry sector (and quite often concentrating on roles at your level of experience) will have the inside track on the most attractive opportunities currently available, some of which will never make it to stage of being advertised publicly.

A good specialist will also be able to examine your career to date to give you a steer on the best routes to achieving your longer-term ambitions as well as offer a wealth of advice on how to champion your skills and experience to make you stand out to a future employer.

Take a targeted approach

Try to avoid the temptation to apply for lots and lots of vacancies simply because they look vaguely like a role you could do or be interested in. To stand the best chance of success, each application should be tailored specifically to the requirements outlined in the job role and description; this takes time so you should be looking to focus your efforts on a handful to key opportunities at a time – aim for quality not quantity.

Don’t lose sight of the end goal

Finding a new job can be a very time-consuming process; you might hit lucky and secure the perfect opportunity from your first application but more often or not you may find yourself going through the application and interview process several times before you achieve success.

Experiencing rejection can be demoralising but ensure that you get feedback on why you didn’t make the interview shortlist or get the final nod so you can learn and focus on improving your next application. Also, don’t be swayed into accepting an opportunity that isn’t right for you – think back to why you wanted to change roles in the first place and ensure that any move that you make is a sound one.

Good luck!

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today to find out more.

ASK THE EXPERT – TOP TIPS AS YOU LOOK FOR A NEW JOB

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